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8.2 FINDING A MECHANIC; AUTOMOBILE REPAIRS
There
are good garages run by one or two mechanics, but they are generally so busy you can wait
for days to get your car back.
There
are large independent repair shops. They tend to be faster but more impersonal. You may
find you are dealing with a different mechanic each time. And of course there are dealers
and franchise operations. Generally people are more satisfied with independent garages.
Do
your homework and ask around. Friends, neighbors, and other shops such as auto parts
stores that do some auto work are good sources. I found a good mechanic by asking at my
favorite tire store.
A
good recommendation is not everything, however. A shop might do well with new American
cars, but not so well with older foreign cars. Be sure to ask about the shop's specialty,
or the kinds of cars it generally works on. Never accept the answer,"Oh, we work on just
about everything."
Check
out a shop with your local Better Business Bureau. How many complaints have been filed
with the garage, how many resolved?
8.2.1 GETTING THE BEST PRICE
It's
hard to compare repair costs, unless it's for something major such as replacing a
transmission. Generally you cannot predict exactly what will need to be done and therefore
cannot compare prices. For most problems, you will simply have to trust your chosen
mechanic.
However,
for large predictable jobs and non-emergency work, it really pays to shop around. As usual
get THREE estimates, in writing. You may be astounded at the difference in price. For
example, when my wife bought a used Buick it needed a paint job and some body work. The
estimates for the same job were $600, $1100, and $1500. We had it done for the lowest
price and were quite pleased.
Here
are some of jobs you may be able to plan for: a major transmission job, rebuilding or
replacing a motor, a complete brake job, a paint job, body work.
Check
out the local community college or high school. They might repair your car for just the
cost of parts at wholesale prices. While you may have to schedule months in advance and
then wait for several weeks once it is in the shop, the savings can't be beat. Be sure to
check out the credentials of the teacher. He will be directing and examining the work his
students do.
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